Splint-drying means for match-machines.



vW. A. FMRBURN.

sBLNT DBYING MEANS PGB, MATCH MACHINES.

Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

v 2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

PPLIOATIOH FILED APE. 11, 1912.

W. A. FARBURN.

SPLINT DRYING MEANS P0P. MATCH MAGHNEs.

APPLIGATON FILED APB.. l1, 1912. Patented Nov. l2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

.WILLIAM A. FAIRBURN, OF SHORT HILLS, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THEDIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SPLINT-DRYING MEANS FOR MATCH-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, i912.

Application filed April l1, 1912. Serial No. 696,145.

il'o all whom it ymay concern:

Be it known that l, iViLLIAM A. FMR- nunN, a citizen ot the UnitedStates, and resident of Short llills, in the county of Essex and Stateof New Jersey, have in-v splints vare inserted into the carrier chain,.

and in another typcpreviously-cut splints are transferred row by rowfrom a hopper or magazine to the said chain.

The principal object of my invention is to provide, in a continuousmatch machine, a novel construction and organization of mechanismwhereby the splints, when the carrier leaves the inserting station andbefore they are subjected to the paraffin treatment, can be impregnatedwith a chemical solution of a nature to preclude the glowing of t-hesplints after they, as finished matches,

have been lighted and blown out, and whereby the wet impregnated splintsshall be rapidly and eilicicntly dried in order to prepare them to takethe paraiiin.

In the particular form of embodiment of my invention which l have hereinselected for illustration I arrange between the splint inserting station'and the parattin reservoir olf a matchI machine., an impregnating tankand a drying structure, which latter is constructed to receive thetraveling chain and its wet impregnated splints and therein subject thesplints progressively to the influence of radiated heat, hot air, andair containing a low percentage ot humidity, in such a manner that thesplints are rapidly and ethciently dried preparatory to the paraliningoperation, as will be hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

. lYhilc l shall herein point. out in detail the strik-tural tentureso't the form oi apparatus which vl have shown in t-he annexed drawings,it is to be understood that my invention is not restricted to theprecise details of construction to which reference may be made, as themechanism may be variously modified without departure trom the fairspirit of the invention. It is to be understood also that the termparatlin is used herein in adescriptive sense merel and that in lieu ofparaiiin any vehicle or the efficient transmission of the flame from'the igniting material, comprising the head, to the body of the splints,may be employed.

In the draWings*Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a portion of amatch machine equipped with a drying structure embodying my invention,said struct-ure being shown in longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 2 isa transverse vertical section, as on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is atransverse horizontal section through the front end of the heatingchamber, as on the line 3 3 of Fig. l.

i indicates a portion of an endless carrier chain into which the splintsare inserted in consecutive rows at the station A, and are thustransported in spaced relation to each other through the match makingpath. The chain herein illustrated is of the perforated plate variety,but of course any suitable carrier by means of which the splints arespaced and held, row by row, may be employed.

.B indicates a. tank arranged in rear of the inserting station andadapted to contain a chemical solution into which the depending splintson the chain are submerged or dipped to a depth and for a periodsufficient. to accomplish the etlicient impregnation of the splints; thechemicals being of such a nature as to impart the nonglowing property tothe splints. The tank is supported in any suitable manner below theroute o the chain, and the track for the latter is appropriatelyconstructed (as at b) to effect the depression of the traveling plates,toward the tank so as to4 dip the splints to a suthcient depth in theimpregnating1 solution, then guide the plates above t. e top ot' thetank to maintain the'splints for a sutiicicnt period in the solution,and then raise the plates to withdraw the splints from they solution andpermit the progress of the chain with its impregnated splints.

C is a splint drying structure immediately succeeding, the impregnatingtank, which drying structure; .vliieli 'mail now proceed to describedetail, "il: ot dieeten ind tbe e oil' e@ Mierde on i I n lowing coilsof the pipe vided throughout their lengt metal rings 5 in order toincrease the heatradiation.

The basal casing includes the spaced side Wells 6 and spaced rear endWall 7, the letterbeing extended upward to constitute the rear end Wollof the upper casing. The inner side Wells are foresliortened et theirforward ends to atford coininonicationt es at S, 'between the chamber 2and, the spaces (which constitute air ducts) between the adjaeent wolleof 'the structure. The roof of the heating chamber comprises a plate 9which is supported dircetly above the system of pipes 3 so as to, resentan extended heet radiating surface tiroughout Athe length of thechamber; the rearward end of the plate being oreshortened. or otherwiseprovided with on opening, :is 10, to' permit the escape i kof thehearted nir from thatdnd of the elleniber, the fresh :f1-ir beinil'llxioduqed nt the front of the lutter. At mhiviilisllsrou {hout thelength of the climnbe'r are. prelomb y arranged 'vertical bilile nietesll which direct ing path through the eiimnber and in eti centi-ict with'the 'pipes in order to ineni'e the heating' oi' the ziirt'o' :i hi idegree in ite pnesnge from the 4front toltie rear of the Chamber. In theY V'resent irl'stence there are tour alternating iiuioplates l1, ofwhich two rise from the bottoni of the chamber and two depend in;

the top plate 9; but, o eonrse, the nnniber i and'nrrengement oi theseplates nifty' be been had,

the tpl-iced il l the wenn? sed by the 11p lhe end walls 7 above tze to,sind i l between the resimgii parte being in oL oi'nr'unnion n 'witheneh other. The ont-e1' top portion ll ie provided with e lone' eine lotto permit the free ingress ie e, mi nir to the will epilees; und a fleteor shield l5 A p ornlifly arranged :dior/*e and throughout the length ofthe slot in dell to prorirnt tho entrante therein of i mooiere :lnoiherein illus 'z tbc bn :il struc ,r wel s l@ ol" the :for` l d wn uponund seemed to Y); the outer eide 'willie ter- `he tcp the lrnsrilstruct; of the lut g at the sides of le, compris loved or "ticketa lowhich wennentente with the *l upper :md lower easings, i @emploieiliter-commoniw i. motive nir duets or im,Life-:ogeni The forwfnfd `nelof the strnclore, directl above tl @plone ot the heating platte 9, is ilistmted es recessed to riz ve and support the. reairword end of theimpregnnting tank, but, if desired, this tank may be located at somedistance :from such Structure. The for' Ward end of the structure.provided with n n entrance7 ns at 1'1"., for the carrier chain und its(.raekway. This trackway is extend` ed into the structure adjacent toand sub stnntially parallel with the heating plate, whereby thedepending splints, immedlately nftertheir removal from the impregnatingtank, are carried into the structure in a lon gitudinal path directlabove the heating plate and are thus sub'ected` to the direct dryingaction of the radiant heat from said plete.v Thence the chain assespertially around e small guide whee 18 within the lower portion of therearward. eend of the opper easing; thence to and partially around a.larger wheel 19 Within the forward part of such easing; thence to andaround a smaller wheel 1S Within the rearward portion ot theorie-ing,and so forward and bnckto and about alternate large sind small Wheelsuntil o s'ollicient length of tl'itvel of the Chapin within the opp@easing has The chain finally passes out wfirdly through :m opening, :isE20, in the opper portion of the rear end of the Structure, end is :1tthat point supported and guided" preferably by :i suitable trnelrway 2lWliioh defieots the chain down ford toward the reservoir .D eontainnethe liquid par odin A t or :xdincentthe rm l frnlofthis s eivl'bii ispril 'lily fa'i'l'e. l it Hiller :i it whitli the. i ed llmrnby directediii :i horizont" li mime the par no4-mas alin reservoir in order thatduring the travel of the chain the rows-of depending splints vthereoncan be properly dipped in the conl tents of the reservoir preparatory totheir f passage to the usual head-composition applying station orvstations in the route ot' the `larger guide wheels at the front of thestructure, the smaller wheels receiving and supporting the back of thechain so as to cause the splints to radiate outwardly, and the largerwheels receiving and supporting the front of the chain to cause thesplints to project inwardly. The smaller wheels are ordinary tiangedwheels mojinted on shafts 23 which extend vtransversely of thestructure, through the side walls thereof. and are supported by bearingblocks 24 on vertical posts 25 exteriorly of the structure. The largerwheels each comprise a pair ot periphorally flanged side membersl whichare connected by cross bolt-rods 26, such niembers lbeing adequatelyspaced to receive and supportq the edges of the carrier chain whilepermit-trug the unobstructed passage of the inwardly-projecting splints.Each ot the wheels 19 is loosely mounted on tubular stubs 27 whichextend'through the side walls ot' the structure and are supported bybearing blocks 28 on exterior vertical` posts 29. EX- tending throughthe stubs is a shaft 30 from which radiate within the Wheel a series ofarms carrying blades or vanes 31 which are adapted to be rotatedsimilarly to the vanes of a fan, the outer end or ends of the shaft 30being provided with a pulley or pulleys 32 which are driven from asuitablel source of power. Each of the larger Wheels is provided withone of these fan devices, and all the fans are simultaneously driven inthe same direction, that is, in the direction otl travel of the chainabout the respectivel wheels 19, for a purpose which will presentlyappear. i

Within the structure is providel` the sinous conduit 11 above referredto through which the chain passes' during its travel from the inlet 17to the exit 20, such conduit including the space directly above theheating plate and communicating by way ot' the opening 10 in the latterwith the heating chamber 2. The top or terminal branch ot this conduitis provided with an outlet 33 leading to an exhaust fan 34 which issupported exterior-Ly of the structure, as on the bracket 35, wherebyduring the operation ot the fan a current of air is drawn into andthrough the heating'- chamber 2 and therefrom progressively into andthroughout the entire length of conduit until finally discharged at thetan.

The conduit is so constructed and arthatthe air in its passagetherethrough is concentrated and deflected upon the splints in a mannerto avail ot its maximum drying efficiency, which result is contributedto by the rotating fans, whereof the blades 31 sweep the advancing airoutwardly and upwardly to insure a wide diliusion thereotl in the regionot the larger guide wheels.

in the present instance the conduit coniprises, in connection with theinner side walls of the upper casing, a plate structure which isarranged directly above and parallel, or substantially' so, with theheating plate as indicated at 36; and then curved and extendedcorrespondingly with the forward and backward path of the carrier, as at37 and 38 respectively, and finally terminate-fl at the top of the uppercasing, as at 39, adjacent the uppermost large guide wheel 19. Thesinuous partition thus constituted by the plate structure is so arrangedthat the hack of the traveling chain lies adjacent thereto in order thatthe splints carried by the chain shall always project away from theproximate top or bottom wall, as the case may be, ot the conduit. Thecurved portions ot' the plate structure adjacent the small wheels arecut avay, as at 40, to permit the peripheral portions ot' the wheels topass therethrough and support the chain.

The spaces between the successive longitudinal sections ot" the platestrueture` are divided into two passages by longitudinally disposedpartition plates L11 which extend from a point adjacent the periphericsot the `larger wheels 19 to a point midway, or substantially so, betweenthe succeeding smaller Wheels 18. The rearward portion of the lowermostpartition, is provided with a downwardly curved wall 42 which terminates at the rear end wall of the structure so as to produce a passagethrough Which-the heated air .is directed from the heating chamber; suchportion of the lowermost partition is connected with the next succeedingportion b v a curved wall 43, and suoli latter partition is connectedwith the next upper portion by a similar wall 44; the wholen at'-tording a series of inter-communicating passages corresponding with thesinuous course ot the carrier, and properly proportioned as regards areaand air velocity. It is to be noted that the f shaped passages formedbetween the, adjacent longitudinal sections 38 ot' the conduit,constitute dead-air chambers which, so to say, insulate the outer wallsof the successive passages ot the conduit and insure therein the maximumdrying eiiiciency of the current.

'lhe partitions il are preferably provided on their upper and lowersides with inclined batiie plates 45 which are so constructed and llocated as to delleet the air toward and into intimate contact with theopposing splints Lerares stituting a continuation of said superposedchamber and having communication with the heating chamber, and means forguiding the carrier Chain through the superposed chamber and theconduit.

9. In splint drying means for 'match machine having a splint carrierchain, a easu ing, a longitudinal air-heating chamber therein, a systemof heater coils in said chamber, a longitudinal superposed chamber, aheat radiating plate between said chambers, and means for guiding theCarrier chain through said latter chamber so that the splint bearingface thereof will travel adjacent to the heat radiatingplate.

10. In splint drying means for a match machine having a splint carrierchain, a casing, a longitudinal air-heating chamber therein, a system ofheater coils in said chamber, a longitudinal superposed ehamber, a heatradiating plate between said chambers, a sinuous conduit constituting acontinuation of Said superposed Chamber and having communication Withthe heating chamber, and means for guiding the carrier chain through thesuperposed chamber and the conduit.

11. In splint drying means for a match machine having a splint carrierchain, a casing, a longitudinal air-heating chamber therein, a system ofheater coils in said chamber, a longitudinal superposed chamber, a heatradiating plate between said chambers, a sinuous conduit constituting acontinuation of said superposed chamber and having communication Withthe heating chamber, means for guiding the carrier chain throughV thesuperposed chamber, and a series of alternating small and large Wheelsarranged to support and guide the chain through the Conduit.

l2. ln splint drying means tor a match machine having a splint carrierchain, a easing having air duets between the walls ther-eet' and an airinlet at the top thereo t. a basal' longitudinal heating chamber Withwhich said duets ronnnunirate. a sinuousI Conduit communirating withsaid ftnimber. means tor ,guiding 'the barrier f'hain ilnougll saidConduit, and means tor exhausting air from said Conduit.

13. ln a splint drying means for a, inanh machine having a splintwarrior 'hain, a casing, wheels arrange therein to supper: and kQ uidtihe chain to u sinn-fluseourse uf travel, partitions arranged within theons ing to afford, in conjunction Vwith the Wheeis', a series oi"intercomnninieaiing passages through Vwhich the chain is directed, andalso closed or dead-air spaces eXteriorly of said passages, and meansfor establishing a current ot air through said passages.

l-t. ln splint-drying means for a match machine having a splint Carrierchain, a

structure qou'iprising a conduit, means for supplying air thereto, meansfor supporting and guiding the carrier Chain within the conduit, andmeans for deiiecting the air against the splint-bearing taee of theearrier during its travel Within the conduit.

Signed at New York in the county and State of New York this 10th day ofApril D. 1912.

lVlLl'JAM ifi. FAIRBURN.

W'itneSSeS:

JOHN R. NOLAN, B. CHANDLER SNEAD.

